20 Best Things to Do in Langkawi Island in 2024

Langkawi island is not named as the “Jewel of Kedah” for nothing. This quaint, tropical town off the coast of Northern west side of Malaysia offers so much more than what one could ever imagine. While this gem has a good amount of laid-back beaches to just laze on, it is also quite a place for some adrenaline pumping activities in every corner. Whichever fun you prefer, here are the top and best things to do in Langkawi Island that you may choose from on your vacation!

Best Things to Do in Langkawi Island

1. Take the Sky Cab

Get a chance to see the second highest peak in Langkawi Island and the oldest mountain in Southeast Asia up close and personal in the easiest and most exhilarating way possible – the Sky Cab! The ride offers a 360-degree view of the Gunung Mat Chinchang, Andaman Sea and a part of Thailand. The Langkawi Sky Cab is known to be the Longest Free Span Single Rope Cable Car and one of the steepest gradients in the world at 42 degrees.

Read more about Langkawi SkyCab: The Langkawi SkyCab Experience 2023

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2. Cross the Sky Bridge

Among the best things to do in Langkawi that you should definitely not miss is crossing the Sky Bridge. This bridge is a stunning, 125-meter long feat nestled at about 660 MASL atop Gunung Mat Chinchang, the oldest mountain in Southeast Asia. It is also considered to be the world’s longest curve suspension bridge! Currently, you can only get to the Sky Bridge through taking the Sky Cab to the Top Station and the Sky Glide. The latter is an inclinator that will take you from the Top Station where you can purchase the ticket for an access to the Bridge.

Take note that flying of drone is strictly prohibited in the Sky Bridge.

3. Go on an Island Hopping Tour on a Jet ski

One of the best things to do in Langkawi that we loved the most was the island-hopping tour on a jet ski. Head over Pantai Chenang, a lovely white beach and a seat for endless fun and exhilarating water sports and activities in the island! You can choose from their packages where you can go on a jet ski adventure tour for 3 to 6 hours. Among the islands that you can visit are Pregnant Maiden Island, Beras Basah Island, Intan Kecil Island, Tuba Island and more! You may also combine these with a tour at Geopark Mangrove, Fish Farm restaurant, Andaman Sea and Eagle square! The packages may also include a self-drive jet ski to and around these islands, snorkeling, lunch in a floating restaurant, mangrove river cruise and swimming!

Check rates and book here for 5% discount: Langkawi Jet Ski Experience

4. Go on a Food Crawl

Langkawi island is reputed for its delicious and fresh seafood including scrumptious local, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Continental, Middle Eastern and other international cuisine. From spicy to sweet, sour and savory, Langkawi has it all. You may opt to dine by the beach, open-air eateries surrounded by swaying palms and the cool ocean breeze.

5. Sunbathe in Langkawi island’s Idyllic Beaches

Pantai Kok, Pantai Chenang, Pantai Pasir, Tengkorak, Datai Bay, Burau Bay, Pantai Tengah and Pantai Tanjunung Rhu are just some of Langkawi’s idyllic beaches, perfect for carefree sun-filled days and quiet evening strolls. These beaches have their own characteristics and charm.

Pantai Chenang, the most popular of them all, exudes fun and energetic vibes with lots of water sports, trendy beach cafes and an exciting night life. Pantai Tengah, the longest stretch of beach on the island, houses cozy resorts and water sports perfect for families. Datai Bay and Burauh Bay are great options for visitors who opt for tranquility in the enclave of exclusive, upscale resorts and secluded coves.

6. Hop on a Yacht for a Sunset Cruise

Sail forth on a yacht from the Langkawi Yacht Club to the Andaman Sea for a one-of-a-kind sunset watching experience. Go around on a jet ski, sing along with the performer on board, share laughter, stories and booze, slide, jump off the yacht, dip into the saltwater jacuzzi net as you marvel the gorgeous sunset while cruising the stunning waters of Andaman.

Royal Langkawi Yacht Club

Before you hop onto your yacht for the sunset, you may want to explore the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club itself. Situated within walking distance from Kuah Jetty, you’ll find this exclusive establishment with a beautiful clubhouse. It has a fully equipped marina comprising 51 berths that can accommodate a variety of vessels including sailing keels, deep hull boats and even 60m mega yachts. The club has extensive facilities which include a waterfront swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna deep-sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, speedboat facilities and a whole lot more.

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7. Ride a Go Kart

If you’re down for some thrilling race either as a professional or a hobbyist, you may want to visit Morac Adventure Park situated just a few minutes away from the Langkawi International Airport and Pantai Cenang Beach. Channel your inner F1 driver as you speed through this 1.3-Kilometer Sodi World Series (SWS)-certified track on state-of-the-art go karts in Malaysia.

Note: Don’t forget to wear an appropriate set of outfit for racing!

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8. Visit the Night Market

One of the best things to do in Langkawi in concluding a day full of fun in the sun is visiting their night market. Night markets are locally known as Pasar Malam and it’s quite a thing in the island. You can find one in all days of the week in varying locations. Enjoy authentic local food and shopping items at a very low price! Make sure though that you’ll bring cash and not much of flashy stuff. These places can get really crowded and you might not want to be a victim of pickpocketing.

Below is the schedule of their Pasar Malam:

Name of Night Market	Location	Day/s Available	Operating Hours
Kuah Night Market	Kuah Jetty	Wednesdays and Saturdays	5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Bohor Temoyong Night Market	Kampung Temoyong, Pantai Cenang	Thursdays	5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Kedawang Market	near Pantai Chenang	Tuesdays	5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Ulu Melaka Market	Jalan Makam Mahsuri Lama	Mondays	5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Air Hangat Night Market	Padang Lalang, near Air Hangat	Fridays	5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Bayas Night Market	Kampung Perana	Fridays	5:30 PM t o 10:00 PM
Padang Matsirat Night Market	Beras Terbakar	Sundays	5:30 PM to 10:00 PM

9. Visit the 101st island of Langkawi

Langkawi island has about 99 islands around it and you may be wondering as to why there is 101st. The rest are actually man-made. Among those is Paradise 101 – the 101st island of Langkawi and its number one eco-friendly private day resort. Depart from Adventure 101 Paradise Island, near Telaga Harbor along Pantai Kok early in the morning for a whole day of fun with all of the water sports available in the island. Among the activities that you may enjoy at Paradise 101 are Parasailing, Banana Boat, Zip line, Kayaking, Cruising, Jet Ski and others.

10. Explore Langkawi’s Caves

The caves in Langkawi worth exploring include Gua Cherita which is easily accessible and situated only 30 minutes by boat from Tanjung Rhu. You can find interesting rock formations inside stepped in fabled tales of mystery and romance. The ancient inscriptions on the walls may best interest you, too!

Another interesting cave in the island is the Gua Kelawar nestled in the heart of a mangrove forest. A wooden platform allows visitors easy access through the cave. Gua Pasir Dagang, about 45 minutes by boat from Kuah, has a shallow stream running right through the cave. The boat journey to the cave itself is an adventure of sorts. You may also opt for your guides to take you to a cave expedition.

The Bat Cave locally known as Bukit Pinang is a 6000-year old cave situated at a forested area, above 25 meters above sea level in Kubang Badak GeoTrail, Northern Langkawi. It is considered to be one of the biggest caves in Langkawi and one of the eco-tourism spots due to its magnificent cave and karst formation. Locals named is the Bat Cave as it is known to be a home to at least 10,000 roosting bats.

11. Go Kayaking in Kubang Badak Mangrove River

Part of the Kubang Badak Eco Tour is kayaking at the mangrove river. Paddle your way through the serene river, lush mangrove forest and scenic wetlands with a chance of fascinating wildlife encounter. Among the animals that you may chance upon in the wild are White-bellied sea eagles, Brahminy Kites, herons, mudskippers, fiddler crabs, monitor lizards and more! Jump start the educational adventure at Kubang Badak Jetty with an orientation to understand and appreciate the place and the activities better.

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12. Plant a Mangrove at Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail

What’s more fulfilling than ending an ecotour with planting a mangrove? Make your trips worthwhile as you leave a legacy in the island instead of carbon footprints through giving another mangrove tree a life. After an amusing exploration around the Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail, paddle your way to the mangrove area where you can plant one!

Check rates and book here for 5% discount with my code ANNEGUMIRAN: Private Langkawi Mangrove Tour

13. Eagle Watching

Wouldn’t it be nice to see for yourself the creatures this island you’re visiting is named after? Get a chance to see white-bellied eagles and Brahmin Kites on your Ecopark or island hopping adventure! Booking for these tours usually give you an option to include an Eagle watching or Eagle feeding in your itinerary! Fret not about the eagle feeding. Locals make it sustainable in such a way that they are not going to feed the eagles much and whatever always. Say there are five tourist boats, only one would give the eagles some chicken meat while the others watch.

14. Dine in a Floating Restaurant

Embark on a gastronomic adventure with a twist! Hop on a boat or an exciting jet ski ride to floating restaurants from a different cove, island or at the ocean. Enjoy the food as you bathe into a magnificent hues of the ocean or the river – wherever you like!

15. Parasailing

Langkawi is also quite a place to soar into heights. This isn’t about hiking the pinnacles, taking flights nor cable cars. Soar some hundred feet above the Andaman sea as you embark on an elating parasailing adventure in Langkawi. Parasailing activities are usually held before the sunset for better wind condition. It usually lasts at around 15 to 20 minutes. On a fine, windy day during your holiday trip in the island, head over Pantai Cenang, Tanjung Rhu, Kuah, Pantai Tengah or Paradise 101 for the experience! If you’re feeling brave and you weigh 50 Kilograms and above, then, you can parasail alone. If you wish to make it a #friendshipgoals kind of flying, you can go by three as long as the total weight would be a maximum of 250 Kilograms. Make sure though that you’ll book with licensed operators for your safety.

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16. Chase Waterfalls

Take a plunge or a refreshing dip as you chase waterfalls around the island. What’s to love about Langkawi’s waterfalls is that they are accessible. Among the ones that you can visit are Temurun Waterfall (the tallest of them all) at Machinchang Geoforest Park, Seven Wells or Telagah Tujuh and Durian Perangin Waterfalls. Each waterfall has its own distinct charm and a sight to behold.

17. ‘Shop ’til you Drop’

Duty-Free Shopping

Langkawi is an ideal destination to do some serious shopping. It offers an attractive range of duty-free goods. You can find most of the island’s shopping establishments in and around Kuah town. Enjoy a shopping-spree at Idaman Suri, Langkawi Fair Shopping Complex, Jetty Point Duty Free Complex, Langkawi Parade, HIG Complex, Pekan Rabu Complex & the surrounding areas offering a wide selectio

n of items such as perfumes, cosmetics, leather wear, sports gear, ladies’ accessories, confectionery, liquor and cigarettes. Visitors can enjoy another round of shopping at Chenang Mall and the Zone@Underwater World Langkawi.

Local Shopping

Those who want a taste of shopping local style, should head to the bazaars in the main town as well as Chenang and Black Sand Beach. Don’t miss places such as Oriental Village, Element Mall & Sun Mall in Pantal Tengah, De’Zone in Kuala Teriang and Eagle Square for more collectibles and souvenirs. Pick out a dainty Batik (colored-design textiles) outfit or select a fancy handicraft piece for your loved ones. Remember to sample the delicious local spread before heading elsewhere.

Tourists visiting Langkawi Underwater World and Langkawi SkyCab may also get their hands on some great buys such as pewter, crystals and glassware at the shopping outlets located within the vicinity. Visitors are allowed to bring back to the mainland one bottle of liquor and one carton of cigarettes after staying at least 48 hours on the island. Most outlets accept credit cards in Kuah.

18. Watch the sunset at Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)

The Eagle Square (locally known as Dataran Lang) is Langkawi’s most prominent landmark for visitors arriving by sea. Situated near the Kuah Jett, the main attraction of the square is the larger-than-life statue of the reddish-brown eagle majestically poised for flight. The square features scenic ponds, bridges, covered terraces, restaurants and barrel vaults made of bricks. It is beautifully illuminated at night. It also presents a dramatic setting as you approach the island from the sea.

According to local folklore, Langkawi derived its name from the eagle or helang. In old Malay, kawi denotes reddish brown. Hence, the island’s name.

19. Catch the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA)

Langkawi has an excellent reputation as a world-class venue for international sporting events. Among the famous events held regularly in the island is the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). LIMA is held on Langkawi every two years. The main attractions of this event are the high-tech military hardware and equipment on display. The exhibition is usually held in March and goes on for a week.

20. Staycation

Langkawi is perfect for doing everything or nothing at all. If you’re the type who just wants to stay idle in your hotel room on a vacation, this island is still a perfect place to be. Whether you want a room with windows that opens up to the mountains, the seas, forest, a busy street, either a budget-friendly or an upscale one, name it — Langkawi has it.

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Best Things to Do in Langkawi Island, in a Nutshell

Langkawi is not hard sell. It can make you fall in love with it effortlessly if you’d only give it a try. You can take pleasure in it just by lazing around or engaging into adrenaline pumping nature-based activities. The gentle smiles and warm hospitality of the locals will indeed charm you.

The next time you plan to visit Malaysia, consider this as a place where you can spend your days unlike any other.